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State announces more than $375,000 in state assistance to help Ray County community of Orrick with recovery efforts following May tornado

September 22, 2014

An additional low-interest loan of more than $350,000 will help the Orrick School District replace damaged HVAC system

Jefferson City, MO - Gov. Jay Nixon today announced that a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), administered through the Missouri Department of Economic Development, will provide funding of more than $375,000 to help the town of Orrick, in Ray County, repair streets and complete debris removal resulting from the EF-2 tornado that struck the community on May 10. The Governor also announced an emergency low-interest loan awarded to the Orrick R-XI School District to install a more energy efficient heating and cooling system as part of repairs to the school.

“A disaster like this not only leaves physical damages behind but it can also leave a town with a devastating financial burden,”Gov. Nixon said. “These funds will help ensure Orrick has the resources needed to rebuild its critical infrastructure and complete its recovery.”

Following the tornado, the Governor declared a state of emergency, activating the State Emergency Operations Center and mobilizing state resources to assist local authorities.

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) announced today provides funding of up to $376,780 to help with the remaining debris removal work. The funds will also help repair infrastructure damaged by heavy equipment used in the debris removal process. The grant will help fund an engineering study to evaluate impacts of the tornado on water and sewer systems. State CDBG funds are only available to non-entitlement areas (incorporated municipalities under 50,000 and counties under 200,000 in population).

The Missouri Division of Energy also awarded $358,250 in an emergency low-interest loan to the Orrick R-XI School District to replace the rooftop and window units that were either destroyed or damaged by the tornado. With the low-interest loan, the district will install a more energy-efficient heating and cooling system, which will help the school save an expected $39,691 each year. The loan will be repaid within 10 years by the energy savings realized by the district.